Retainer for boxes.



RETAIRBR FOR. BOXES. APPLICATION FILBDOOI. 20, 1908.

Patented, June 8, 1909.

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run nomzu'PrrlR: ca. minimum". 27- c Jr-K. P. PINE & A. H. TA'FTRETAINER FOR BOXES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 190B. 7 923,885, PatentedJune 8, 1909.

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Unrrnn STATES i xrnn r orrio.

JAMES K. P. PINE AND AUGUSTUS I:I TAFT, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TOUNITED SHIRT AND COLLAR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RETAINER FOR BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,JAMns K. P. PINE and AUGUSTUS H. TAFT, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Troy, in the county of Rensselaerand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRetainers for Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to retainers adapted to be used in boxes ofpasteboard or other material for pressing down and holding in positionthe articles packed therein. Its use is to revent such articles frombeing displaced, soi ed or rumpled while in transit or handling. Whileit may be used to protect articles of many different sorts, we will showit, for example, as employed to hold in place laundried shirts.

In the drawings of the particular examples chosen to illustrate ourinvention, Figure 1 represents in perspective a shirt box, without itscover, provided with one form of our retaining device; Fig. 2 is avertical transverse section taken at the mid-length of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa partial side elevation of the same box Fig. 4 is a view like that ofFig. 2, showing a modification; Fig. 5 is a partial interior side viewof the box and retainer, showinga further modification Fig. 6 is atransverse vertical section of the box, covered, showing a still furthermodification ofthe invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the draw ings, 11 designates a boxhaving sides 12 and ends 13. In each side 12 is cut. a Ushaped slot orincision 14, forming a lug 15, which is pressed slightly inward. 21designates a retainer, which, as here shown, consists of a bottomportion 22 of a width approximately that of the box 11, so as to fittherein, its length being substantially less than that of the box andtwo opposite side portions 23 extending upwardly and adapted todetachable engagement beneath the lugs 15, as shown in Fig. 1.Obviously, both the box and the retainer may advantageously be made ofstraw-board or like material.

The operation of the device will be understood from an inspection of thedrawings. The shirts 31 are folded, as is customary, with theirneckbands and cuffs so placed as to come adjacent the ends of the box.It is important, not only that the shirts should be prevented fromshifting about in the box, but also that these bands and cuffs shouldnot be crushed or rumpled. The retainer 21 is therefore made muchshorter than the box 11 and is placed about midway thereof, so as tobear upon the bosoms only of the shirts. It will be seen that the sideportions 23 of the retainer, which is pressed upward by the resiliencyof the shirts, engage with a wedging action beneath the lugs 15, whichtherefore tend to hold the retainer from longitudinal movement.Obviously, a slight downward pressure serves to disengage the retainerfrom the lugs whenever desirable.

In the example of our invention shown in Fig. 4, all the parts are asabove described, except that lugs 45 glued or otherwise secure to thesides 12 of the box are substituted for the integral incised lugs 15 ofthe former construction. Plainly the operation of the device isunchanged except that the upward ressure of the shirts or other articlesis re ied on to prevent the longitudinal movement of the retainer.

The device of Fig. 5 is like that of Fig. 4, except that the sides 23 ofthe retainer are provided with notches 24, whereby the retainer may bepositively engaged as against longitudinal movement with the lugs 45.

In the form of our device shown in Fig. 6, the sides 12 of the box areunprovided with lugs of any sort, the cover 51 of the box being dependedon to hold the retainer 21 in its operative position. Where the boxcovers are quite tightly fitted, or Where the boxes are corded forshipment, this form would be reasonably practicable.

It is obvious that many mechanical changes may be made in the form etc.of our device without departing from the spirit of our invention. Thus,the shape as Well as the relative dimensions of the box may be varied toconform to the articles to be packed therein, while the form andrelative size of the retainermay be equally nonessential. We howeverprefer the form of retainer shown for various reasons; first, anyadditional parts would be useless; and second, while it is the fiatportion alone that presses upon the articles and serves to hold them inposition, the integral sides whether upwardly or downwardly extendingact to stiffen the device so as to prevent its buckling, and in theforms of construction of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, have the added functionof holding it against longitudinal movement. Again, while we have showna single pair of lugs and these located at the mid-length of the box, itis clear that the number or position of such lugs is immaterial.

The essential feature of our invention lies in making the retainer ofsubstantially less length than that of the box in which it is placed, sothat it presses only on the middle portion of the shirts or likearticles therein and does not crush the bands or cuifs, which are at theends of the box.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a box; and a detachable retainer formed from a blankof straw board or like material and including a flat portion and twoopposite side portions integral therewith and bent at an angle thereto,said retainer being of a length substantially less than that of said boxand of a width approximately equal to that of said box; said box beingprovided with means for securing said retainer with its flat portion ina plane substantially below that of the cover of said box.

2. In combination, a box; and a detachable retainer formed from a blankof straw board or like material and including a flat portion and twoopposite side portions integral therewith and bent at an angle thereto,said retainer being of a length substantially less than that of said boxand of a width approximately equal to that of said box; said box beingprovided with means on its opposite sides for securing said retainerwith its flat portion in a plane substantially below that of the coverof said box.

3. I11 combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer formed from an integral blankof strawboard or like material and including a flat portion and twoopposite side portions bent at an angle thereto, said retainer being ofa length substantially less than that of said box and of a widthapproximately equal to that of said. box, whereby it is adapted toengage beneath said lugs, substantially for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer formed from an integral blankof strawboard or like material and including a flat portion and twoopposite side portions bent at an angle there to, said retainer being ofa length substantially less than that of said box and of a widthapproximately equal to that of said box, said side portions beingnotched for engagement with said lugs, substantially for the purposesset forth.

5. In combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer formed from a substantiallyrectangular blank of straw board or like material and including a bottomportion and two opposite upwardly extending side portions integral withsaid bottom portion, said side portions being adapted to engage beneathsaid lugs, substantially for the purposes set forth.

(5. In combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer formed from a substantiallyrectangular blank of strawboard or like material and the length of whichis substantially less than that of said box and the width. of which isapproximately equal to that of said box, said retainer including abottom portion and two opposite upwardly extending side portionsintegral with said bottom portion, said side portions being adapted toengage beneath said lugs, substantially for the purposes set forth.

7. In combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer including a bottom portion.and two opposite upwardly extending side portions, said side portionsbeing notched for engagement with said lugs, substantially for thepurposes set forth.

8. In combination, a box provided with integral incised inwardlyprojecting lugs on its opposite sides; andv an integral detachableretainer including a bottom portion and two opposite upwardly extendingside portions, said side portions being adapted to engage beneath saidlugs and to be thereby restrained from longitudinal movement,substantially for the purposes set forth.

9. A box provided with means for detachably securing therein a retainerand for restraining said retainer from longitudinal movement, said meansbeing located at opposite sides of said box and below their upper edges;in combination with a retainer of a length substantially less than thatof said box and of a width approximately equal to that of said box, saidretainer consisting of a flat portion and two opposite side )ortionsintegral therewith and bent at an an gle thereto substantially for thepurposes set forth.

10. In combination, a box; a detachable retainer of a lengthsubstantially less than that of said box, said retainer consisting of athat portion and two opposite side portions integral therewith and bentat an angle thereto; and means on the sides of said box for restrainingsaid retainer from longitudinal movement, substantially for the purposesset forth.

11. In combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer the length of which issubstantially less than that of said box and the width of which isapproximately equal to that of said box, said retainer including a Hatportion and two opposite side portions bent at an angle with said llatportion, said lugs being adapted to engage with said retainer so as torestrain it from longitudinal movement. 7

12. In combination, a box provided with inwardly projecting lugs on itsopposite sides; and a detachable retainer the length of so as torestrain it from longitudinal movewhich is substantially less than thatof said ment.

box and the width of which is approximately JAMES K. P. PINE.

equal to that of said box, said retainer in- AUGUSTUS H. TAFT. 5 eludinga bottom portion and two op osite Witnesses:

upwardly extending side portions, sai lugs RICHARD A. HEOKER,

being adapted to engage with said retainer GARRY J. DORMANDY.

